Summer Update: A Record of Republican Accomplishment

CUTTING TAXES: American families continue to reap the benefits of the first major reform of the tax code in 31 years. Four million workers received bonuses, consumer confidence hit an 18 year high, and 102 utility companies cut rates, saving consumers $3 billion. More than 8,000 low-income communities across the nation have been designated as “opportunity zones” to encourage investment and job creation. Congress also repealed two of Obamacare’s burdensome taxes on medical devices and health insurance.

STRONG ECONOMIC GROWTH: Major economic indicatorsand manufacturer confidence continue to rise. Driven in part by investment encouraged by the tax law, economic growth for the second quarter of 2018 is expected to hit 4.7 percent, according to the Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank.

SLASHING RED TAPE: Congress repealed 16 regulations through the Congressional Review Act, savingmore than $36 billion in compliance costs. So far in this fiscal year, the Trump administration has cutseven major regulations for every one it’s issued.

HELPING MAIN STREET GROW: Congress passed legislation to roll back Dodd-Frank’s regulatory burdens on smaller financial institutions. The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act enablesthese financial institutions to use more of their resources for serving customers, rather on complying with federal regulations.

MILLIONS OF JOBS CREATED: The economy is strong and growing, with more than 3.5 million jobs created since November 2016. At 3.8 percent, the unemployment rate is the lowest in 18 years. Since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act became law, the economy has created more than 1 million jobs. There are now more job openings than there are job hunters in the U.S.

CONFIRMING JUSTICE GORSUCH: This week marks the end of Justice Neil Gorsuch’s first full term on the Supreme Court after he was confirmedby Senate Republicans last April. He has authored sevenmajority opinions this term and has provided the key fifthvote in 13 cases decided 5-4.

RESHAPING THE CIRCUIT COURTS: The Senate has confirmed21 circuit judges nominated by President Trump – the most in the first two years of any presidency in the past 40 years. A little more than one in eight of the 164 active circuit court judges has been appointed by President Trump.

FUNDING CHILDREN’S HEALTH: Long-term reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program was passed to provide stable funding for nearly 9 million kids enrolled in CHIP coverage. This was the longest extension of CHIP since the program’s creation in 1997.

EXPANDING ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS: President Trump issued an executive order designed to increase consumer choice and insurer competition by expanding association health plans, short-term limited-duration health plans, health reimbursement arrangements, and sales of insurance across state lines. In response, the Department of Labor released its final rule to expand options for coverage through association health plans. These plans will allow small businesses and the self-employed to band together to compete and negotiate for coverage that is regulated as large-group coverage, free of some of Obamacare’s most burdensome regulations.

PATIENTS GIVEN “RIGHT TO TRY”: Congress passed right-to-try legislation to allow terminally ill patients access to experimental medical treatments not yet approved by the FDA. A patient with a terminal illness is now able to use treatments that have passed the first phase of the FDA approval process.

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ENERGY DOMINANCE UNLEASHED: The administration approved the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines. Congress openedthe coastal plain area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for energy development, ending a 37-year fight over ANWR.

OFFSHORE DRILLING: The administration opened nearly all U.S. offshore waters for resource development.

OPENING FEDERAL LANDS: The administration generated $360 million from oil and gas lease sales of federal land in 2017, an 86 percent increase over 2016.

REBUILDING OUR MILITARY: Republicans in Congress have made funding our military and protecting the nation a top priority. Earlier this year, Congress agreed to an increase of $165 billion over two years for our military. This is a significant investment in our military and the largest budget increase for defense in 15 years.

CARING FOR VETERANS: President Trump and Republicans in Congress have worked together to provide quality health care for disabled veterans. The VA MISSION Act will put veterans first and allow them to receive health care from doctors in the VA and in their community without having to clear unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles. Veterans are also benefitting from a great economy – veteran unemployment is down to 3.4 percent.

NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM IN PLACE: Senate Republicans strongly supported the president's nominee for secretary of state and prioritized his confirmation over Democrat obstruction. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has already demonstrated his leadership and effectiveness as our nation’s top diplomat by negotiating the historic Singapore summit with North Korea and bringing home American hostages. Gina Haspel, a career intelligence professional, was also confirmed by the Senate and is the nation’s first female director of the CIA.